Read: Hebrews 4:14-15 NRSV
Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Remember that Jesus, who was and is perfect, felt it necessary to rest. He rested partly because he was a devout Jew and observed the Sabbath (although not when it interfered with the other bodily needs of his followers, Matthew 12:1-2), honoring God by following His commandments. Jesus also rested because he was weary and needed reinforcement. Jesus was fully human, but to us he appears most human in his private communications with his Father, including asking if his crucifixion could be avoided. (Matthew 26:39).
Jesus died after living a perfect life. He is the sacrificial lamb who cleanses the sin of the world. Now he sits with God, ready to intercede for us when we pray. To the author of Hebrews, this means that we should be tripping over ourselves to ask for aid. “Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness.” As we’ve established throughout this week, we need all the help we can get so that we may also enter God’s holy rest. It’s like being lost in the wilderness, only to find a fully-functioning iPhone on the ground. Are we going to put it in our pocket and keep wandering around, hoping that we’ll find our way out on our own? That’s essentially what we’re doing when we cut Sabbath rest out of our lives. We’re taking this miracle gift, freely offered, and chucking it into a lake, trusting that we can take care of ourselves.
We’ve been told by our society that self-reliance is a virtue, but it’s a lie. Jesus relied on the Father. Trusting in our own judgement or trying to work God into our schedules is a form of self-idolatry. He is our sustainer, provider, and savior. We need rest because we need God. Pick up the phone and make the call.
